AMD Ryzen 5 7520U vs Intel Core i3-9350KF Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits this comparison cleanly along workload lines. The Intel Core i3-9350KF takes three wins, and the AMD Ryzen 5 7520U takes three wins, but the margin and character of those victories differ sharply.

The Intel chip dominates in the newer Cinebench R23 multi-core test, scoring 6352 against AMD's 5149, a 23.4% advantage. That is a decisive margin for a desktop part running at a 91 watt TDP against a 15 watt mobile processor. The Intel chip also wins Geekbench multi-core with 4098 versus 3766, an 8.8% edge, and Geekbench single-core with 1534 versus 1185, a 29.5% margin. Those Geekbench wins show that the Intel architecture, with its 4.60 GHz boost clock versus AMD's 4.30 GHz, delivers higher per-thread throughput in that suite.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7520U counters in the older Cinebench R15 tests. It scores 834 in R15 multi-core versus Intel's 640, a 23.3% advantage, and 168.8 in R15 single-core versus 90, a 46.7% blowout. The R15 single-core result is the largest delta in the entire comparison, and it flips the expected narrative: in that specific workload, the AMD chip is far ahead. The R23 single-core test also favors AMD, 1171 versus 896, a 23.5% margin.

Looking at the broader database context, the Intel chip sits at the 46th percentile of all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 2082, while the AMD chip sits at the 45th percentile with 2046. These are nearly identical overall standings, which makes the head-to-head deltas more interesting: the two processors achieve similar average scores through very different workload profiles. The Intel part leans on sustained multi-core and Geekbench performance, while the AMD part leans on SMT-enabled threaded workloads in Cinebench R15 and strong single-core results in both Cinebench generations.

The AMD chip's eight threads, double the Intel part's four, explain its R15 multi-core win. The Intel chip's higher boost clock and older, higher-power architecture explain its Geekbench and R23 multi-core wins. Neither chip is a universal winner; the data suggests users should pick based on the specific applications they run.

The Verdict

The recorded data supports a straightforward conclusion: the Intel Core i3-9350KF is the better choice for users running Geekbench-style workloads or modern multi-threaded rendering in Cinebench R23, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7520U is the better choice for older Cinebench R15 workloads and single-threaded tasks in that generation.

For desktop users with access to a discrete GPU, the Intel part offers a 23.4% lead in R23 multi-core and a 29.5% lead in Geekbench single-core. Those are large enough margins to matter in productivity apps that scale across cores or respond to high single-thread performance. The Intel chip also has a launch MSRP of $173, a fact the database records, though its end-of-life production status means availability is not guaranteed.

For mobile users or those building low-power systems, the AMD Ryzen 5 7520U is the only sensible option from this pairing, as it is an active mobile part with a 15 watt TDP and integrated Radeon 610M graphics. The Intel chip has no integrated graphics, so it requires a separate GPU. The AMD chip's 46.7% lead in R15 single-core and 23.5% lead in R23 single-core also indicate it handles lightly threaded tasks well despite its lower boost clock.

The average benchmark scores are nearly tied, 2082 for Intel versus 2046 for AMD, a difference of about 1.8%. Users who cannot identify which workload they run most should know that neither chip is dramatically faster overall. The choice comes down to workload fit, platform needs, and power constraints. The Intel part wins where sustained desktop performance matters; the AMD part wins where efficiency and threaded legacy workloads matter.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single margin in this comparison is Cinebench R15 single-core, where the AMD Ryzen 5 7520U scores 168.8 against the Intel Core i3-9350KF's 90. That is a 46.7% delta, an enormous gap that suggests the Intel chip is severely handicapped in this particular test. The Intel part's 4.00 GHz base clock and 4.60 GHz boost clock do not rescue it; the AMD chip's 2.80 GHz base and 4.30 GHz boost, combined with its Zen 2 architecture, produce a much stronger result. This is the clearest win in either direction.

The Intel chip answers in Cinebench R23 multi-core, scoring 6352 versus 5149, a 23.4% margin. This is the largest Intel win and the more modern rendering test of the two Cinebench generations. The Intel part's 8 MB of shared L3 cache versus AMD's 4 MB, and its 38.4 GB/s memory bandwidth, likely contribute to this result. The AMD chip's 88.0 GB/s memory bandwidth is higher, but the Intel part's higher clock speeds and older, power-hungry architecture win out in this workload.

Geekbench single-core shows Intel ahead by 29.5%, 1534 versus 1185. This is a substantial lead and indicates that the Intel part's architecture handles Geekbench's single-threaded tests much better. Geekbench multi-core also favors Intel, 4098 versus 3766, an 8.8% margin. Notably, the Intel part wins both Geekbench tests despite having only four threads versus AMD's eight.

Cinebench R15 multi-core goes to AMD, 834 versus 640, a 23.3% margin. This aligns with the AMD chip's thread advantage and suggests that R15 scales well with SMT. Cinebench R23 single-core also goes to AMD, 1171 versus 896, a 23.5% margin. So the AMD chip wins both Cinebench single-core tests and R15 multi-core, while Intel wins R23 multi-core and both Geekbench tests.

The pattern is consistent: AMD wins in Cinebench R15 and single-core Cinebench R23, Intel wins in Geekbench and multi-core Cinebench R23. Users running the older R15 benchmark, perhaps for legacy software validation, will see a very different picture than those running R23 or Geekbench.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core i3-9350KF has an average benchmark score of 2082, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7520U has 2046, a difference of 36 points.

Q: How large is the AMD chip's win in Cinebench R15 single-core?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7520U scores 168.8 against the Intel Core i3-9350KF's 90, a 46.7% advantage, the largest delta in the comparison.

Q: Does the Intel chip win any multi-core test?

A: Yes, the Intel Core i3-9350KF wins Cinebench R23 multi-core with 6352 versus 5149, a 23.4% margin, and Geekbench multi-core with 4098 versus 3766, an 8.8% margin.

Q: What are the thread counts for each CPU?

A: The Intel Core i3-9350KF has 4 cores and 4 threads, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7520U has 5 cores and 8 threads. Note the AMD chip has double the threads.

Q: Which CPU has integrated graphics, if any?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7520U has integrated Radeon 610M graphics, while the Intel Core i3-9350KF has no integrated graphics.

Q: How do the two CPUs compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7520U supports LPDDR5 with 88.0 GB/s bandwidth, while the Intel Core i3-9350KF supports DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Core i3-9350KF is built on Intel's 14 nm process with a die size of 126 mm², while the AMD Ryzen 5 7520U uses TSMC's 6 nm process with a 100 mm² die. The Intel chip is a desktop part with a 91 watt TDP, socketed in Intel Socket 1151, while the AMD chip is a mobile part with a 15 watt TDP, socketed in AMD Socket FT6.

The Intel architecture is Coffee Lake, specifically from the Core i3 Coffee Lake Refresh generation, while the AMD architecture is Zen 2 under the codename Mendocino. The Intel chip has 4 cores and 4 threads with a base clock of 4.00 GHz and boost clock of 4.60 GHz. The AMD chip also has 4 cores but 8 threads, with a base clock of 2.80 GHz and boost clock of 4.30 GHz. The higher thread count comes from simultaneous multithreading, which the Intel chip lacks.

Cache configurations differ notably. The Intel chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 256 KB of L2 cache per core, and 8 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 per core, 512 KB of L2 per core, and 4 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD chip has double the L2 per core but half the L3.

Memory support also diverges. The Intel chip supports DDR4 in dual-channel mode with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth and supports ECC memory. The AMD chip supports LPDDR5 in dual-channel mode with 88.0 GB/s bandwidth and does not support ECC. PCIe connectivity favors Intel: 16 lanes of Gen 3 from the CPU versus AMD's 4 lanes of Gen 3.

The Intel chip has no integrated graphics, a key distinction for system builders. The AMD chip includes Radeon 610M graphics, making it a complete APU. The Intel part is end-of-life and was released on 2019-01-07 with a launch MSRP of $173, while the AMD part is active and was released on 2022-09-19. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier. The Intel part number is SRF7V, and the AMD part number is 100-000000770. The Intel chip's TDP of 91 watts versus AMD's 15 watts reflects the fundamental design split: desktop performance versus mobile efficiency.